We have decided that the Questbook & Plurality Labs proposals should be separate, but complimentary proposals. Here are the reasons behind keeping the proposals separate:
Credible Neutrality
To maintain credibility and avoid any perception of bias, Plurality Labs proposes conducting a discovery process to identify the most impactful means of deploying funds. By selecting Questbook before conducting this discovery, Plurality Labs may be seen as favoring a particular solution from the outset. Such a perception could undermine trust within the community.
The Arbitrum DAO can decide if they would like to see the Questbook program start outside of the governance and accountability of the Plurality Labs program.
Maintaining clear accountability
Questbook offers a ready-to-go solution with a process architecture that incorporates pluralist and decentralized elements. Their approach relies on a single allocation mechanism called Delegated Domain Authority. On the other hand, Plurality Labs aims to explore multiple allocation mechanisms to create a sustainably decentralizing solution that doesn’t rely solely on delegated authority.
In this regard, Questbook should be held accountable for allocating funds effectively, while Plurality Labs should be held accountable not only for effective fund allocation but also for developing native DAO processes that facilitate co-creation of the best grant funding mechanisms and approaches.
Showcasing pluralism from day 1
Plurality Labs fully supports other grants programs and wants to avoid discouraging investment in those programs due to their own efforts. By presenting their proposal separately, they hope to set a positive example on Day 1. If Plurality Labs successfully delivers their final proposal, it is anticipated that other grants programs will choose to participate through their program based on its demonstrated effectiveness. This expectation is reasonable upon completion of the third milestone.
Commitment to collaboration
Separating the proposals does not imply duplication of work. Questbook is likely to participate and co-host many discovery and design sessions organized by Plurality Labs. Questbook will benefit from the insights gained through Plurality Labs’ efforts. Additionally, Plurality Labs may choose to incorporate the Questbook software as a specific component within one of their pluralist grants programs.
Next Steps
Posting both proposals
The final version of the Questbook proposal is available here. The final version of the Plurality Labs proposal is available here. In the event that both proposals succeed, the entities involved are eager to collaborate, thereby establishing a precedent of pluralism from the very beginning.